Get the most of your summer by preparing for the changes to come this fall: Jennifer Moss

The many uncertainties the pandemic brought to our lives resulted in constant change. Not only was that flood of change abrupt, but it has remained persistent. It has felt like everything – from how we work to how we parent to how we navigate our relationships – is always pivoting.

So it makes sense for us to see hope on the horizon now, and perhaps want to focus on it so fully that we ignore our current reality for a while. But even though summer feels like the perfect time for an escape, this summer we may want to reconsider that approach to self-care.

Some of you may be asking, "Why? Shouldn't we take a couple of months to escape? Don't we all really need that break?"

And those would be fair questions.

Here's the thing. Yes, we do need to take a break emotionally and mentally. Yes, we do need to be hopeful. But at the same time, our mental health can't afford to get caught off-guard yet again. We may have developed emotional flexibility and resilience this past year, but we're probably in for a particularly stressful September and that requires mental preparation.

Good news! We can have our cake and eat it, too. Here are three strategies for enjoying a restful and healthy summer while readying for the changes that are likely to come this fall at work, at home, and in our communities.

Preparing for workplace return 

For many, the way we work shifted dramatically in the past year. However, since our brains are designed to normalize stress and change, we learned to accept these shifts. It wasn't easy, nor was it ideal, and many of us are exhausted, but for the most part we've handled the upheaval.

Come September, a large swath of the workforce may be going through a massive shift all over again.

As part of my work, I speak to business leaders, and most of them have identified September as a "back to work" date. For remote employees, it looks like there will be an expectation of returning to the office in some capacity, whether it's five days a week or a hybrid approach of some days in the workplace, some days remote. Any of that will be a change for those who've worked from home for all or most of the past year.

For essential workers, there are still far too many questions. What protocols might stay or change? Will there be vaccination requirements? Will enough people be vaccinated so I feel safe? Will masks still be mandatory?

Autumn is always a period of acceleration for business, with employers looking to catch up or grow in the last calendar quarter. It's not surprising that researchers have found September is the most stressful time of the year. This year, though, we'll also be breaking a 20-month behavioural pattern. Having to change habits that are now ingrained will make the usual seasonal shift that much harder.

So this summer, balance break time with planning time. Assess what you want from your work come the fall. If you'll be returning to the workplace, list what you need to feel comfortable with that. Consider:

• Are there aspects of my job that I've been doing that I want to maintain going forward?  
• Are there parts of my job that have been exhausting me and that I need to stop doing?
• What are my expectations for going back to the workplace? What happens if those expectations aren't met?
• Do I have social anxiety about returning to the workplace? 
• Do I have fears for my physical safety? 

To combat social anxiety, take some time this summer to slowly rebuild your peer group at work. Perhaps it's by calling up one or two of your coworkers and, when it's safe to do so, getting reconnected in person before the fall. Try to build up your comfort level now, instead of feeling completely overwhelmed later.

To combat fears about physical safety, learn about your employer's safety strategy. What is their plan? If you feel like you can, share your concerns with your manager. If not, consider consulting a mental health professional before September for help managing your fears.

Preparing family for return to school

Many of us associate September with back to school. For some, it's childhood memories bubbling up, but for parents of school-age children, the return to school is always a big transition – and this year will be a return like no other.

To prepare, it's important to identify whether our children feel safe going back. Let's find moments to ask them about their fears and, if there are real concerns, to plan a strategy for reducing their stress as much as possible this summer.

If the concerns are based on social anxiety, help children reconnect with school friends over the summer. Plan dates for get-togethers, perhaps more frequent in the ramp-up to school return.

Share safety protocols with children. Discuss what will be put in place for them and how the school board is working to keep them safe.

Some stress may be related to uncertainties about extracurriculars, both in school and after school. The rapid shift from no schedule to regular schedule will feel like a tsunami hitting the household.

To combat that, plan ahead – and challenge each decision.

• Should we just go back to how things were pre-pandemic?
• Should my child be in the same number of activities?
• Did my child flourish with virtual learning or was it challenging for them? 
• Will they need extra time to catch up and adjust to being back in the classroom?

We need to prepare our relationships for the September shifts. For example, I am already booked solid for in-person speaking engagements the week school returns. It's a discussion we are already having at home. What will that look like for our family? As parenting partners, how can we be there for the kids and each other? What plans do we make with our support team so they aren't caught off-guard?

Preparing to re-engage with friends and community

I want to reiterate that hope is essential and some escapism is healthy. We all need those days lying by the water or lounging in our garden or (fingers crossed) just sitting on a patio laughing our heads off with friends. 

At the same time, it's a good idea to analyze the habits we've built up during the pandemic. Some have made us better off. Some we may want to break. Take time this summer to address those.

If we're feeling nervous about being out in the world, let's start slow. We can begin to expand our circle by focusing on one or two close friends and being with them in person (when it's safe, of course). Our circle doesn't have to grow into a massive social group – reconnecting with a few people is the best way to get the ball rolling.

We also need to start re-engaging with our community. Loneliness has been at a peak this past year. In a recent YMCA WorkWell report (full disclosure: my husband is the Executive Director of WorkWell) 70 per cent of respondents said they agreed or strongly agreed they were feeling lonelier than normal during the pandemic. We must keep reaching out to people who are vulnerable – those connections are healthy for all of us.

• EXTERNAL LINK: YMCA WorkWell report

Take time today to feel the hope that is rising with the increased vaccinations, the warmer weather, the upcoming loosening of restrictions. Go outside for a few minutes. Feel the sun or the rain. Be in the moment.

Then, take time to imagine a positive end to the summer. Remember, building hope comes from building plans. To leverage hope this summer, plan for a fall that is way less stressed, much more optimistic, and emotionally manageable at work and at home.